A widely used algorithm for sorting data is the QuickSort algorithm. QuickSort is a highly efficient, divide-and-conquer algorithm that sorts elements by partitioning an array into smaller sub-arrays. It selects a "pivot" element and places all smaller elements to its left and larger elements to its right. This process continues recursively until the entire array is sorted. QuickSort is favored for its average-case time complexity of O(n log n) and its ability to handle large data sets effectively, making it a go-to solution in many applications.